Deck 11: Environmental Geology and Earth Resources

Question 1

Rocks are classified according to their

A) chemical composition.
B) physical properties.
C) internal structure.
D) mode of formation.
E) All of these are used to classify rocks.

Answer 1

All of these are used to classify rocks.

Question 2

Problems associated with gemstones and precious metals such as gold and diamonds include which of the following?

A) They are often used to finance violent civil wars.
B) They are often used to finance terrorism.
C) Their extraction often involves slave labor and torture.
D) Their extraction often involves environmental destruction.
E) All of these are correct.

Answer 2

All of these are correct.

Question 3

If metals are deposited in streambeds _____ would probably be used.

A) placer mining
B) strip mining
C) underground mining
D) spoil bank mining
E) open-pit mining.

Answer 3

placer mining

Question 4

"Subduction" is the process of a tectonic plate

A) falling freely into the mantle.
B) being forced below another plate.
C) melting without moving.
D) sliding alongside another plate.
E) being sucked into the outer core.

Question 5

The "ring of fire" is the source of more earthquakes and volcanic activity than any other place on earth. What causes the ring of fire?

A) the subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates
B) the drift of Europe and Africa away from the Americas
C) the collision of two continental plates
D) mid-oceanic ridges
E) the conduction currents in the hot magma.

Question 6

Why would the environmental degradation associated with mining be a low priority for a less-developed country?

A) The country relies on the export of a mineral for the majority of their foreign exchange.
B) Both consumers and producers depend on the minerals so much that environmental consequences are of less importance.
C) Less-developed countries are more likely to import minerals so environmental degradation is not as important to them.
D) The environmental impact of mining is low.
E) Environmental degradation is usually not a priority for less-developed countries.

Question 7

________ in the mantle and core make tectonic plates move.

A) Conduction movements
B) Earthquakes
C) Radioactive decay
D) Convection currents
E) Concurrent currents

Question 8

__________ rocks are often the source of metal ores such as gold, silver, and copper.

A) Igneous
B) Metamorphic
C) Sedimentary
D) Weathered
E) All of these are sources of metal ores.

Question 9

Which of the following statements regarding tectonics is true?

A) Because of tectonic movements, Europe and Africa are drifting slowly toward the Americas.
B) When continental plates collide with continental plates, both plates usually subside.
C) When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the continent usually rides up over the seafloor.
D) Because of tectonic movements, the Pacific Ocean is slowly increasing in size.
E) When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the oceanic plate usually rides up over the continental plate.

Question 10

A major environmental implication of the quest for more gold at lower concentrations in the ore compared to higher concentrations is that

A) about the same amount of toxic gas is released from digging out the gold.
B) less waste rock is produced.
C) less material has to be moved to get to the gold.
D) more carbon dioxide is released as the gold is mined.
E) more material has to be moved to get to the gold.

Question 11

Which of the following factors were not in your explanation?

A) Technological inventions can increase the efficiency of gold extraction from the ore.
B) New sources of the gold ore are found through better exploration techniques.
C) Technological inventions can increase efficiency of gold processing out of the ore.
D) As supplies decrease and prices rise it is less rewarding to explore for new sources of the gold.
E) All of these factors are based in economics and would be used in my explanation.

Question 12

The United States keeps large stockpiles of bauxite to ensure a supply of aluminum. This is an example of

A) economic geology.
B) an evaporite.
C) a strategic metal.
D) a metal consumed in South America.
E) a mineral from a less-developed country.

Question 13

Placer mining causes environmental damage chiefly by

A) destroying streambed habitats.
B) clogging streams with silt.
C) introducing toxic compounds to streams.
D) smothering aquatic life.
E) All of these are correct.

Question 14

The continental crust of the earth is _____________ while the oceanic crust is _____________.

A) similar in composition to the outer core; thicker and lighter than the continental crust
B) thicker and lighter than the oceanic crust; similar in composition to the mantle
C) similar in composition to the mantle; thicker and lighter than the continental crust
D) similar in composition to the outer core; similar in composition to the mantle
E) thicker and lighter than the oceanic crust; similar in composition to the inner core

Question 15

Which of the following countries is not a principle consumer of crucial metals?

A) United States
B) France
C) Japan
D) China
E) Russia

Question 16

Rock formed from magma extruded to the surface through volcanic vents is classified as

A) sedimentary.
B) igneous.
C) metamorphic.
D) weathered rock.
E) lava.

Question 17

Rocks are _______ in the process called the rock cycle.

A) moved from place to place
B) incorporated into living organisms
C) broken down and re-formed
D) cycled through the core and mantle
E) cycled through the crust and core

Question 18

The physical breakdown of a rock into smaller pieces is called

A) the rock cycle.
B) sedimentation.
C) chemical weathering.
D) mechanical weathering.
E) abrasion.

Question 19

Metamorphic rocks are produced when rocks are

A) chemically weathered.
B) recrystallized by heat and pressure.
C) physically broken down.
D) melted in the mantle and recrystallized.
E) recrystallized through chemical processes.

Question 20

Evaporites, formed from ___________, are important economically because they are often found at or above 97% purity and are __________.

A) igneous rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability
B) metamorphic rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability
C) sedimentary rocks; important due to their strength, lightness, and malleability
D) igneous rocks; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels
E) sedimentary rocks; therefore concentrated in economically recoverable levels

Question 21

A giant sea swell known as a tsunami is caused by

A) typhoons.
B) earthquakes.
C) lunar gravity.
D) unusual tides combined with seasonal storms.
E) a strong wave during an exceptionally high tide.

Question 22

Heap-leach extraction involves piling crushed ore into large piles and spraying it with ________________.

A) an alkaline-cyanide solution
B) concentrated salt water
C) high-pressure steam
D) giant sandblasters
E) none of these are correct.

Question 23

What gas is released in the process of smelting?

A) carbon monoxide
B) chlorine
C) sulfur dioxide
D) ammonia
E) carbon dioxide

Question 24

One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in North America occurred around New Madrid Missouri in 1812.

Question 25

Nuees Ardentes are sonic waves associated with earthquakes.

Question 26

The eruption of a volcano can cause global climate changes by causing stratospheric ozone reduction, allowing increased ultraviolet light to reach the Earth's surface.

Question 27

Smelting releases metals from ore.

Question 28

Building and farming on a flood plain decreases the land's ability to absorb flood waters.

Question 29

The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is _________.

A) iron
B) silicon
C) oxygen
D) aluminum
E) none of these are correct.

Question 30

The need for extraction of raw metals for making steel has been reduced due to the

A) increase in the number of smelters.
B) increase in minimills.
C) decrease in demand for steel.
D) decrease in amount of ore used to produce high quality steel.
E) increase in legislation and regulation for the extraction of raw materials.